Bottle-capping machine



E. R. SHARP. BOTTLE CAPP ING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, I920.

Patented Dec. 21,1920.

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M1 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES g ELMER ROLAND SHARP, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

:Bo'rrLn-ciirrrne MACHINE.

Specification 6f Letters Patent. Patented D 21 1920 Application filed June 21, 1920. Serial No. 390,368.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER ROLAND SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Capping Machines, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My invention pertains to bottle capping tools, and has for its purpose to provide a simple hand-operated device by the use of which metal caps or crowns can be quickly and firmly seated upon the tops of bottles, no other support for the tool being required than that furnished by the bottle itself, in the operation thereof.

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 shows my device in side elevation, with one half thereof broken away, and parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a medial longitudinal section, with the jaws of the tool in open position.

1 represents a cylindrical body member, having a crown receiving recess 2 in its lower end, to which member are secured 0ppositely disposed arms 3. Such arms are preferably provided in pairs, spaced apart to receive the inner ends of hand-lever 4, which are pivoted between said pairs of arms, as at a. Pivoted to the inner ends of the levers 4;, as at b, are arms 5, the lower ends of which support semi-circular aws 6, adapted to embrace the neck 7 of a bottle, as shown in Fig. 1.

The arms 3 are provided with downward projections 8, the inner edges of which are vertical and parallel, and when the arms 5 are forced inwardly and upwardly, as is accomplished by the movement of the long arms of the levers 4 downwardly, the outer edges of the jaws 6 engage the inner edges of said projections, causing the jaws to move upwardly along the neck of the bottle until they are in contact with the bead on the upper end thereof. A continued movement of the hand-levers forces the crown, which has been placed in position on the top of the bottle, downwardly into position thereon.

The initial movement of the hand-levers 4 operates to move the jaws 6 toward each other, the continued movement of the levers carrying the jaws upwardly along substantially parallel lines. At the end of the movement the pivots b are at a point somewhat above the horizontal plane of the pivots a. The upward movement of the jaws 6 is limited by means of shoulders 6 thereon which come in contact with the projections 8.

The arms 5 are further held in proper position for vertical movement by means of flanges 9 thereon, against which the rounded ends of the levers 4: bear.

l/Vhen the bottle has been provided with a cap, the-arms 4 are again raised, swinging the jaws 6 downwardly and away from each other, and permitting the tool to be removed from the bottle. To prevent the jaws from swinging outwardly too far, springs 10 are provided, coiled upon the pivots a, secured to the arms l in one direction, and having a bearing against the arms 5 in the other direction. As the arms 4 are moved downwardly the tension of the springs is increased, compelling a movement of the jaws 6 between the projections 8.

It will be seen that the main force of the tool is exerted against the top of the bottle and the lower side of the bead thereon. On this account there is less danger of breakage of the neck of the bottle, the beaded portion thereof being the strongest part.

What I claim and desire to secure, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a body member, provided with cap seating means; supports extending from said body member in opposite directions; hand-levers fulcrumed in the outer ends of said supports; and clamping members, pivotally connected with said hand-levers, and adapted to hold the head of a bottle against pressure from said body member, the initial movement of said hand-levers operating to move said clamping members toward each other, and the continued movement thereof carrying said clamping members upwardly along substantially parallel lines.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a body member, provided with metal cap seating means; pairs of supports extending radially from said body member; handlevers fulcrumed in the outer ends of said supports; arms pivoted to said hand-levers, and provided with semi-circular jaws for engagement with the neck of a bottle, the movement of said hand-levers operating to move said arms inwardly and upwardly; and means for holding said jaws in parallel relation during the upward movement thereof.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a cylindrical body member, provided with metal cap seating means; pairs of supports extending radially therefrom, and provided with angular projections; hand levers fulcrumed between said pairs 61 sup orts; "clamping devices pivoted to said hand-levers, and adapted to be engaged'by s'aifl'pi-6- jections to cause themovement thereof in parallel relatien; for yieldably limiting the movement o f said clamping members away from each other.

4. A device of the class described, com-s prising abody member, provided with capseating means; supports extending from said body member in opposite directions; handlevers fulcr med in said supports; vertically disposed arms pivoted to the inner ends of said handdevers, and 7 provided with fl nges against which the ends of said hand le'vers bear; and clamping jaws supported by said arms, adapted to encircle the neck of a bottle.

5; A device er the class described, comprising a body member, provided with metal.

as seating means; a pair of arms slidable said body member on opposite sides of said eap seating means; complementary clamping jaws carried by said arms, adapted to encircle the neck of a bottle; and means for imparting to said, arms a movement upwardly or downwardly, with a closing action of said jaws at the beginning ofthe upward movement, and a spreading action of thejaws at the end of the downward o ment V n ny,irhereeila fiximy S 1" anne- ELMER ROLAND S ARP. 

